He had no confidence in that lady's discretion; he thought it not improbable that she would speak of Reuben to Cecily in the very way she should not, making him an impressive figure.

Then again, what part was Mrs.Baske likely to have in such a situation?
Could she be relied upon to rep resent her brother unfavourably, with the right colour of unfavourableness?
Or was it not rather to be feared that the thought of Cecily's influence might tempt her to encourage what otherwise she must have condemned?
He retraced in memory that curious dialogue he had held with Miriam on the drive back from Baiae; could he gather from it any hints of her probable behaviour ?....
By a sudden revulsion of mind, Mallard became aware that in the long fit of brooding just gone by he had not been occupied with Cecily at all.

Busying his thoughts with Mrs.Baske, he had slipped into a train of meditation already begun on the evening in question, after the drive with her.

What was Mrs.Baske's true history?
How had she come to marry the man of whom Elgar's phrases had produced such a hateful image?
What was the state, in very deed, of her mind at present?
What awaited her in the future?
It was curious that Mrs.Baske's face was much more recoverable by his mind's eye than Cecily's.

In fact, to see Miriam cost him no effort at all; equally at will, he heard the sound of her voice.